Anti-infective Eye and Ear Drop

As eyedrop to be administered in the eye:

1. Wash your hands with soap and water and read the instructions on the label.
2. Shake the bottle.
3. Tilt your head backwards and look up.
4. Gently pull the lower eyelid down to form a pocket and squeeze the bottle to apply one drop into your eye. To prevent the tip of the bottle from getting dirty, make sure the tip does not touch the eye or any other surface.
5. Close your eyes gently and wipe off any excess eye drops around your eyes with a clean tissue.
6. Keep your eyes closed and press down gently on the inner corner of your eye for 1 to 2 minutes to allow the medication to be absorbed.
7. If you need to use more than 1 drop of medication, or if you are using another type of eye drop, wait at least 5 to 10 minutes before applying the next eye drop. This is to prevent the first drop of medication from being washed away by the second drop before it has time to work. This also prevents any medication interactions between different eye drops.
8. If your doctor prescribed both eye drops and eye ointments, you should use the eye drops first.
9. DO NOT wear contact lenses during your medication treatment and until the infection has cleared.
10. Do not stop using your medication without checking with your healthcare professional.
11. Anti-infective eye preparations are prescribed for your current eye condition only. Do not reuse or exceed the prescribed duration of treatment. 

As eardrop to be administered in the ear:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
2. Gently shake the bottle before using. 
3. Tilt your head OR lie on your side so that the affected ear is facing upwards.
4. Place the dropper tip just above your ear canal (entrance of the ear) and pull the ear as instructed below. Avoid touching the ear with the dropper tip. 
   
   1. For children under 3 years old: Gently pull the lower ear DOWNWARD and backward. 
   2. For children over 3 years old and adults: Gently pull the upper ear UPWARD and backward. 
5. Then, apply the prescribed number of drops in the ear. 
6. Gently massage the small skin flap over the ear to facilitate the flow of drops into the ear canal (tragal massage).
7. Keep your ear tilted or remain in the lying position for a few minutes so that no medicine leaks out of the ear.
8. Replace the cap of the bottle immediately after use.
9. Tissue can be used to wipe excess fluids on the external part of the ear. Avoid the use of cotton bud and object for mechanical ear wax removal.

Inform your healthcare professional if: 

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication. 
• You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
• You have glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. 

Eye drops:

• Eye stinging, redness or irritation

Ear drops:

• Itching or redness in ear canal

These symptoms are usually mild and will subside after some time. Check with your healthcare professional if these conditions are severe or do not improve. 

• Signs of worsening infection (e.g. pain, fever, progressive decline in vision or hearing abilities) 

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

• Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.